Digital TV displays are being sold by the millions in China, and most of those are connected to a digital cable or DTH satellite set-top box, which means most LCD DTVs are nothing more than “DTV ready.” The market for digital TVs integrated with terrestrial, satellite, cable, or IPTV tuners is only in its most infant stage. It’s only a matter of time before large numbers of DTVs will include over-the-air tuners and connections to the Internet.
In 2009 DTC estimates that less than 3% of all LCD DTVs shipped in China contained tuners growing to about 6% of the market by 2011. In the meantime, the market for digital TV displays is exploding creating one of the world’s fastest growing digital TV markets.
All industry eyes are on the Chinese market and DTC is now offering a Domestic Chinese LCD DTV Quarterly Tracking Service, which is being produced with China-based RedTech Advisors. The service tracks quarterly shipments, brand market share, and component supplier market share in this rapidly growing market.
The timing for the tracking service is important. To date, the government regulator (SARFT) has emphasized the digitization of cable systems, but as most of the large cable systems are transitioned from analog to digital (in the 2012-2013 time frame) look for the government to place more emphasis on rolling out digital terrestrial TV. As more TVs with integrated DTT tuners and Internet access ship into the Chinese market, DTC believes the complexion of the DTV market will change dramatically in the next few years.
Source: Digital Tech Consulting and RedTech Advisors
